Punching die for rail anchors



/ Aug. 7, 1934. E, R I- A 1,969,514

PUNCHING DIE FOR RAIL ANCHORS Filed Oct. 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1934- E. R. LEHMAN 1,969,514

PUNCHING DIE FOR RAIL ANCHORS Filed Oct. 8, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1934- E. R. LEHMAN 1,969,514

PUNCHING DIE FOR RAIL ANCHORS Filed Oct. 8, 1929 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 7, 1934 PUNCHING DIE FOR RAIL ANCHORS Edgar R. Lehman, Johnstown, Pa., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 8, 1929, Serial No. 398,133

16 Claims.

My invention relates to cutting and punching dies for the manufacture of articles out of a metal bar, or blanks cut out of a bar or plate ,4 and is more especially adapted for use in forming rail anchors.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as forming the article from a bar of metal which may be of considerable ,length in which the bar or strip of metal is clamped, punched, indented and a length cut 01f at one operation, but in some cases I may however prefer to first cut a bar or plate into blank strips the size of the article to be formed and then feed the cut lengths to the punching "dies in sequence in which case the movable shear blade could be dispensed with, but the clamping and punching mechanism would be the same.

. In forming rail anchor parts, or articlessimi- 0"lar to that illustrated in the drawings, a bar of metal, or a blank cut from a bar or plate, is first fed to the punching dies preferably while in a heated or semi-plastic condition and punched and if a long stock bar is used a length is cut off, or in case a blank is used another blank is fed to the machine in the usual manner without securely clamping the work operated upon. The punch is then raised and stripped from the work and the bar or blanks advanced a length and the operation repeated. In forming rail anchor parts or similar articles in this manner the withdrawal or stripping of the punch from the work owing to the drag of the punch through the material twists or otherwise distorts the bar or blank so that it is necessary to place the article thus formed in a straightening press.

One of the objects of my invention relates to the manner of clamping the blank or the end of the bar from which the articles are formed during the punching operation which continues to hold the work until after the punch has been stripped or withdrawn from the work, preventing the blank or bar from becoming twisted or otherwise distorted and thereby eliminating the final operation of using a straightening press.

Another object of my invention relates to the mechanism for automatically clamping the bar or strip just before the cutting and punching operation and automatically releasing the clamping action on the work after the stripping operation.

A further object of my invention relates to the' manner of firmly clamping the bar during the cutting, indenting, punchingand stripping operation, but automatically releasingv the clamping action on the work at the end, of the stripping operation to allow the blank or bar, to be fed forward another length;

The present embodiment of my invention is designed particularly for use in the production of rail anchors, and as such I shall proceed to describe it although it will be readily .understood that by so doing I do not limit my inven- 6 ticn to such use alone as other articleshaving various outlines may be made in asimilar manner without departing from the spirit of my invention. I

Referring now to the accompanying inr I sheets of drawings in which like characterspf, reference indicate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device with enough ofa metal punching machine to illustrate the application of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1; 7

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of my, invention detached from thepunching machine taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4, and drawnv on a larger scale to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the parts being shown in full lines at the end of the cutting and punching operation and in dotted lines at the end of: the stripping operation; 1

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end elevation illustrating the opposite end of the device to that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the top holder; ,1

Figure '7 is 'a' top plan view of the baseplate or bottom holder; 7

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the bottom shear blade and female diej Figure 9 is a side elevation of the indenting punch; and N V Figure 10 is a top plan view of the swinging hinged middle holder.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates the frame of a punchingmachine of well known construction having an adjustable bed plate 2 and a reciprocating ram 3 having an adjustable plate 4 with a block5 attached to its lower face by means of which any longitudinal and lateral adjustment is obtained for the tools mounted thereon. The bed plate 2 has'a dovetailed groove 6 formed on its upper sliding connection between the top holder 25 and face for receiving the dovetailed lower portion of the bottom holder 7 adjustably held in position by means of set bolts 8. A longitudinal groove 9 is formed on the upper face of the bottom holder 7 for receiving the lower female punching die and shear blade 16 having an opening therein as at 11 conforming in outline to the punched out portion 12 of the bar 13 and registers with an opening 14 formed in the bottom holder through which the cut out portion 12 of the bar is ejected. Extending upwardly from the bottom holder '7 on either side are ears 15 having openings formed therein as at 16 adapted to form bearings for the ends of shaft 1? upon which is hinged centrally as at 18 near its lower side edge a swinging middle holder 19.

Ihe swinging middle holder 19 has an upwardly extending portion 20 having a cam surface 21 adapted to engage the cam surface 22 of a cam plate 23 which is attached by means of bolts 24 to the end of the top holder 25, said top holder being attached to the block 5 which is mounted on the ram 3 and movable therewith. A slide way 26 is formed centrally in the swinging middle holder 19 for receiving a punch stock 27 having a punch attached to its lower end as at 28. The upper end of the punch stock 27 extends upwardly above the top of the swinging middle holder 19 and is held between the downwardly extending flanged edges 29 of the top holder 25 by means of a pin 30 which passes through holes in the flanged edges 29 and through an inclined slot 31 near the top of the punch stock 27. 'The'inclined slot 31 being of greater. width than the pin 30 to allow for a the, punch stock 2'7. A slide Way 82 offset as at 33 is formed at one end of the hinged swinging middle holder'19 in which is adapted to reciproc'ate a shear blade 34 and indenting punch 35,

respectively, held in position by means of a plate 36, boltedto-the hinged swinging middle holder as at 37.

The punch stock 27, movable shear blade 34 and indenting punch 35 are secured together by means of a pin 38, one end of which is screwed into the punch stock 2'7 and extending outwardly therefrom engaging the shoulder 39 formed on the upper end of the indenting g punch 35 and projecting through the hole 40 metal or bar which is fed to the machine by means of the feed rollers 42 until the forward end engages a gauge 43, and a depression is formed at the shearing edge of the blade as at 44 in line with the indenting punch 35 adapted to receive the indented or offset portion 45 of the rail anchor member 46. In order to release the clamping action on the blank or bar after the punching and cutting operations and the cam surface 22 has been raised by means of the ram 3 out of engagement with the cam surface '21, a pin 47 is secured to one in whicha complete railanohor member 46 has been formed and out off, while the forward end of the bar is clamped between the lower vface of the swinging middle holder 19 and the upper face of the female punching die and stationary shear blade 10, while the portion 12 has just been punched out and the portion 45 depressed by means of the indenting punch 35. The ram 3 carrying the top holder25 and cam plate 23 are then raised vertically until after it has reached the end of the stripping operation. At the beginning of the stripping stroke the top holder 25 with pin 30 and cam plate 23 attached thereto will first move independently of the swinging middle holder 19 and the movable parts mounted therein until the pin 30 engages the upper surface of the end of the inclined slot 31. The punch stock 27 with the punch 28 at tached, indenting punch 35 and movable shear blade 34 connected thereto by means of the pin 38 will then be raised together with the top holder 25, the swinging middle holder 19 will however continue to remain stationary and clamp the blank or bar until the cam surface 22 of the cam plate 23 passes above the cam 21 on the extending portion 20 of the hinged swinging middle holder 19. The hinged swinging middle holder 19 will then be rotated on the hinge,

5, the operation above described is then repeated.

It will be readily understood that, although I have illustrated my device as being used in cut-. ting and punching a bar or blank while in a heated and semi-plastic condition it could be used equally well in punching and cutting a cold bar'or for operating on a blank 01 111% l ke.

Although I have shown and described my improvements in considerable detail, I do. not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown and described, but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraccd'within the scope of my invention or as pointed out in the claims. 7

Having thus described my invention What I The ram 3 will:

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

n. a punchin pp u a p ir f di s adapted to receive a strip of material to be punched, a hinged swingingfholder for clampeing the, strip of material to be punched to pre vent distortion during the punching and strip-l ing operation, a punch stock disposed in the hinged swinging holder in slidable relationv therewith, and means for swinging the hinged holder. g k

'2, In a punching apparatus, the. combination of a movable die and. it fixed die, adapted to re ceive a strip of materialtobe punched between the dies, a punch stock for the movable die, a hinged swinging holderoperated in conjunction with the movable punch stock and; die for clamping thestrlp of material to prevent distortion during the punchingv and stripping operaon f th vable die, a s id W y o m d.

the hinged swinging holder for receiving and uiding the. movablepunch stock and means to operate the hinged holder at. the end of. the

stripping operation of the movable die to release the strip of material.

3. In a punching apparatus, comprisinga movable die and a fixed die, adapted to receive a bar of metal as it is fed between the dies, a stock secured to the movable die, hinged clamping means disposed in slidable relation to the punch stock and coacting with the movable die for clamping'the bar in engagement with the fixed die during the punching and stripping operation of the movable die, and means for swinging the hinged clamping means to release the bar.

v i. In a punching apparatus, comprising a re- GiD'fOCating ram and base plate, a top holder sccured to thereciprocating ram, a bottom holder mounted on the base plate, a fixed die mounted in the bottom holder adapted to receive a bar of metal, a die attached to the top holder and movable with the ram adapted to punch a bar of metal as it is fed between the dies, a middle holder hinged to the bottom holder and coacting with the movable die, means for swinging the hinged middle holder for clamping the bar.

during the punching and stripping operation of the movable die, and means to release the bar after the movable die is stripped from the bar.

5. In a punching apparatus, comprising, a movable die and a fixed die adapted to receive a strip of material as it is fed between the dies, a holder for the fixed die, a hinged middle holder pivoted to the fixed die holder for clamping the strip of material during the punching and stripping operations, and means forreleas ing the clamping action of the middle holder on the strip of material at the end of the stripping operation.

6. In a punching apparatus, comprising a reciprocating ram, a top holder secured to the re ciprocating ram, a base plate, a bottom holder mounted on the base plate, a fixed punching die mounted in the bottom holder, a punching die having a stock slidably attached to the top holder and movable with the ram, a middle holder hinged to the bottom holder having a slide way formed therein for the stock of the movable punhing die, said dies adapted to receive a strip of metal as it is fed between the dies, said hinged middle holder coacting with -the punch stock for clamping the strip of material to be punched to prevent distortion during the punching and stripping operation of the movable die, means for reciprocating the movable die independently and in conjunction with the i-hinged swinging holder, and means for swinging the hinged holder at the end of the stripping operation of the movable die to release the strip of material.

8. In a punching apparatus, comprising a rerciprocating ram, a top holder attached to the ram, a male die attached to the top holder, a bed plate, a bottom holder secured to the bed plate, a fixed female die attached to the bottom holder, said male and female dies adapted to receive a strip of metal as it is fed between the dies, a hinged middle holder having a slide way formed therein for receiving the stock of the male die, a. cam extension formed on the hinged middle holder, a cam plate secured to the top holder for engaging the cam extension for maintaining the hinged holder in clamped relation with the strip of metal during the work ing stroke of the male die and for releasing the clamping action on the strip of metal when the said male die has been stripped from the work.

ciprocatlng ram, a top holder attached to the ram, a bed plate, a bottom holder secured to {the bed plate, a fixed female punching die mounted in the bottom holder, a movable male,

die provided with a stock slidably attached to the top holder having its cutting edges registering with those of the female die, a hinged middle holder having a slide way for guiding the stock of themale die, a cam extension formed on the hinged middle holder, a cam plate attached to the top holder for engaging the cam extension formed on the hinged middle holder for main-- taining the hinged middle holder in clamped relation with the strip of metal during the working stroke of the male die and for releasing the clamping action when said movable male die has been stripped from the work. 7

10. In a punching apparatus, comprising a fixed and movable die adapted to receive a stripof material as it is fed between the dies, a

holder for the fixed die, an adjustable means for limiting the forward movement of the material, a'hinged swinging holder pivoted to the fixed die holder for clamping the material to prevent distortion during the punching and stripping operation, and means for automatically releasing the clamping action of the hinged swinging holder at the end of the stripping operation.

11. In a cutting and punching apparatus, the combination of a pair of sets of dies, one set acting to punch material passed therethrough and the other to shear the material in definite relation to the part thus punched, means for arresting the movement of the material and maintaining it in definite relation to the dies, a hinged holder disposed in slidable relation with the movable dies adapted to clamp the material during the cutting and punching operation and for releasing the material after the punch has been stripped from the material punched.

12. In a cutting and punching apparatus, the combination of a reciprocating ram, a top holder secured to the reciprocating ram, movable dies attached to the top holder, a bed plate, a bottom holder secured to the bed plate, fixed dies secured to the bottom holder, said dies arranged in pairs of sets of dies, one set acting to punch material passed therethrough and the other to shear the material in definite relation to the part thus punched, means for arresting the movement of the material as it is fed between said sets of dies and maintaining it in definite relation to the dies, a hinged holder disposed in slidable relation with the movable dies, a cam surface formed on the hinged holder, a cam plate secured to the top holder for engaging the cam surface adapted to maintain the hinged holder in clamped relation with the material during the cutting and punching operation, and to release the material after the punching die has been stripped from the material punched.

9. In a punching apparatus, comprisingoa re-.

.13. In a cutting and punching apparatus, comprising a reciprocating ram, a top holder secured to the reciprocating ram, movable dies attached to the top holder, a bed plate, abottom holder secured to the bed plate, fixed dies secured to the bottom holder, said dies arranged in pairs of sets of dies, one set acting to punch material passed therethrough andthe other to shear the material in definite relation to the part thus punched, means for arresting the movement of the material as it is fed between said sets of dies and maintaining it in definite relation to the dies, a middle holder hinged to the bottom holder having slide ways formed therein for aligning the movable dies to coopcrate with the fixed dies during the cutting and punching operations, a projecting cam surface formed on the hinged holder, a cam plate secured to the top holder for engaging the cam surface and adapted to maintain the hinged holder in clamped relation with the material during the cutting and punching operation, and to release the material after the punching die has been stripped from the material punched.

14. In a cutting and punching apparatus, comprising a reciprocating ram, a top holder secured to the reciprocating ram, a base plate, a bottom holder mounted on the base plate, a fixed punching die provided with a cutting die formed integral therewith mounted in the bottom holder, a middle holder hinged to the bottom holder having slide ways formed therein, coacting punching and cutting dies attached to the top holder and adapted to be aligned by -means of the slide ways formed in ,the hinged middle holder to register and cooperate with the fixed cutting and punching dies during the reciprocation of the ram, and means for swinging the hinged middle holder.

of material to be punched, a male die having a stock elidably attached to the top holder andhaving its cutting edges registering with thecutting edges of the female die, a hinged middle holder pivoted to the bottom holder adapted to clamp the strip of material to be punched between its lower face and the topsuriace of thefemale die and means for swinging the hinged middle holder into and out of engagement withthe strip of material.

16. In a machine of the character described,- a bed plate and a reciprocating ram, a top holdor attached to the reciprocating ram, a bottom holder secured to the bed plate, a fixed die mounted in the bottom holder, adie having its stock secured to the top holder and movable with the ram, a groove formed in the fixed die adapted to receive a strip of material as'it is" fed between the dies, a hinged swinging middle holder pivoted to the bottom holder for clamping the strip of material between its bottom face and the top face of the fixed die, a cam extension formed on the hinged middle holder, and a cam plate attached to the top holder for engaging the cam extension for maintaining the hinged swinging middle holder in clamped relation with the strip of material during the punching and stripping operation, and releas ing the strip of material when the movable die has been raised from the work. r

- EDGAR R. LEI-IMAN. 

